John Perkins was baptized, married, and had his children in Hillmorton, Warwickshire. He immigrated in 1631 on the first trip of the Lyon. He lived first at Boston, where "John Perkins and Judith his wife" were admitted to Boston church as members #107 and #108 (this would be in early 1631) [ BChR 14]. He removed to Ipswich by 1633. He served in various minor offices and occasional juries, and appears in the Ipswich records as being excused from service for being 60 years old on 26 March 1650 (when he was at least 67).

He had Ipswich land grants: forty acres in 1634, three acres of upland; ten acres of meadow; an island at More's Point; ten acres where "he hath built a house"; six acres of meadow; six acres of upland in 1635, and forty acres at Chebacco in 1636, and six acres of plowland in 1639 [ Dudley Wildes Anc 88].S2

Will & Probate

In his will, dated 28 March 1654 and proved 26 September 1654, "John Perkines the Elder of Ipswich being at this time sick and weak in body" bequeathed to "my eldest son John Perkines a foal ... also ... to my son John's two sons John and Abraham to each of them one of my yearling heifers"; to "my son Thomas Perkines one cow and one heifer also ... to his son John Perkines one ewe"; to "my daughter Elizabeth Sarjeant one cow and a heifer to be to her and her children after her decease"; to "my daughter Mary Bradbery one cow and one heifer or a young steer ... to her & to her children"; to "my daughter Lidia Bennitt one cow and one heifer or steer ... to her children"; to "my grandchild Thomas Bradbery one ewe"; to "my son Jacob Perkines my dwelling house together with all the outhousing and all my lands ... according to a former covenant, after the decease of my wife"; residue "to my dear wife Judeth Perkines" sole executrix, "as also to dispose of some of the increase to children of my son Thomas and of my three daughters" at her discretion [ EPR 1:190-91].S2

The inventory of John Perkins was undated but totalled £250 5s., including real estate valued at £132: "the dwelling house and barn with out housing," £40 60s. [sic]; "land about the house about eight acres," £12; "more land unbroke up about fourteen acres," £21; "a parcel of marsh about six acres," £12; "a parcel of upland and marsh being much broken about twenty acres," £20; "twelve acres of improved land," £24 [ EPR 1:191].S2